Summit Charter School opening in East Nokomis

Story and photo by MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN

The Summit Charter School at 5011 31st Ave. S. is now accepting enrollment for grades K-6. Located within the Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church building, the new charter school will have a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

According to executive director Magdy Rabeaa, all staff have been hired except for a phys ed teacher, and the school is more than halfway to its opening enrollment goal of 140 students. To date, the enrollment has been fairly even across grade levels, and anticipated class size is between 20-25 students.

Image left: Magdy Rabeaa, executive director of the new Summit Charter School near Lake Nokomis. 

In Minnesota, charter schools are tuition-free, independent public schools that are open to and welcome all students. Charter schools are governed and operated jointly by licensed teachers, parents and community members—along with an authorized agent providing financial and educational oversight.

Minnesota was the first state in the US to create charter schools and accompanying legislation in 1991; there are now 157 charter schools state-wide.

Rabeaa explained, “The STEM focus will be integrated into all aspects of the learning experience here. Teachers will build a list of STEM guest speakers from the community of their students’ parents, and invite four speakers to visit their classroom each year. The goal is to encourage students to connect with STEM careers at an early age. Our field trips will have a STEM focus, and students will have an ongoing, working relationship with the school garden planted outside the main entry on 50th St.”

While charter schools aren’t required by law to have a licensed principal, Rabeaa is in the last stages of completing his principal’s license. Since becoming an English educator in his native Egypt in 1995 and moving to the US in 2003, Rabeaa has continued to work in the field of education.

“We started working on the Summit Charter School four years ago,” Rabeaa said, “myself and our five board members. It’s extremely difficult to find an existing building that can accommodate a whole school. This one, in the lower level of Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, will meet all of our needs.” The site was previously used by the Minneapolis Academy. Bus transportation will be provided by the school district within an eight-mile radius.

The Summit Charter School hopes to avoid the pitfalls of annual testing by being, as Rabeaa said, “data-driven.” He explained, “We plan to implement on-going assessments throughout the school year, to see where our students are succeeding and where they need extra help.”

“In addition,” he said, “our school will have high expectations of classroom behavior, and will encourage significant family involvement.” For more information about the Summit Charter School contact Magdy Rabeaa at mrabeaa@summitcharterschool.org or call 612-876-3050.